Canon has made a strong entry into the vlogging camera market with two new models. Here we are talking about the EOS R50 V mirrorless and the PowerShot V1 compact. The latter was launched in Japan a while ago. In this article, we will discuss the Canon EOS R50 V including its specifications and its expected price in Nepal.
EOS R50V Overview
Sensor and Videography
The EOS R50 V is Canon’s first mirrorless camera designed specifically for vlogging, aiming to compete with Sony’s ZV-E10 II. It’s slightly taller than the PowerShot V1 but has similar overall dimensions.
This camera features a 24MP APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II and a DIGIC X processor, enabling users to shoot super-sampled 4K video at 30 fps using the full sensor width. It also supports 4K video at 60 fps with a crop or 120 fps in 1080p. This is a good option for photographers too because it offers a 12 fps burst rate with the first-curtain shutter or 15 fps with the electronic shutter, all while maintaining continuous autofocus. So, all in all, this camera is a great choice for both video creators and photographers.
Image credit: Engadget
The camera includes a variety of manual controls. There’s a primary control dial on the top and a zoom rocker for compatible lenses. Also, you will get a mode dial that offers options like Movie Auto Slow Shutter, Slow/Fast Motion Recording, and Movie IS Mode. Vloggers will especially appreciate the fully articulating 3-inch display for flexibility when shooting from different angles.
When it comes to connectivity, the EOS R50 V has a dedicated button that allows you to livestream instantly in four different modes, supporting UVC/UAC, HDMI, Camera Connect, and Live Switcher Mobile multi-camera options.
The camera also comes with a single UHS-II card slot and an LP-E17 battery. It also comes with several useful ports, including a microphone, a headphone, microHDMI, and USB-C. It uses Canon’s RF-mount, meaning it’s compatible with all Canon RF lenses, including the newly launched RF-S14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens, the first RF-S lens with power zoom functionality. This adds a lot of versatility for creators who need smooth zoom features during shoots.
The camera weighs a bit more when paired with the new 14-30mm lens (which has a 21-45mm full-frame equivalent focal length). For vloggers, the R50 V offers vlogging-specific modes like a product showcase function and focus breathing correction. The camera’s Dual Pixel II autofocus system includes features like face and eye detection, as well as subject tracking for people, animals, and vehicles. These features make focusing easier than ever, even when switching between different subjects quickly.
Canon EOS R50V Availability and Price in Nepal
The Canon EOS R50V has been launched at $650 for the body-only version and $850 with the RF-S14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens. If the camera makes its way to Nepal, we can expect the price of the EOS R50V to start at around NPR 100,000.
POCO has officially launched the POCO F7 Pro, alongside the F7 Ultra, bringing high-end features and performance. This phone offers an impressive display, powerful chipset, and an upgraded camera system. This article will discuss everything about the latest POCO F7 Pro, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.
POCO F7 Pro Overview
Display and Design
The POCO F7 Pro features a 6.67-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels, offering a sharp pixel density of ~526 ppi. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision, providing an immersive viewing experience. The device also supports HDR10+ and can reach a peak brightness of 3200 nits. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for durability. The phone has an IP68 rating, making it dust-tight and water-resistant, capable of being immersed up to 2.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Performance and Hardware
The POCO F7 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm process. The octa-core CPU includes:
1x 3.3 GHz Cortex-X4
3x 3.2 GHz Cortex-A720
2x 3.0 GHz Cortex-A720
2x 2.3 GHz Cortex-A520
It also features the Adreno 750 GPU, which provides excellent graphics performance for gaming and other high-performance applications. The device comes with several memory options: 256GB with 12GB RAM, 256GB with 16GB RAM, 512GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 16GB RAM, and 1TB with 16GB RAM, all utilizing UFS 4.0 for faster data transfer speeds.
The POCO F7 Pro has a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 50MP wide sensor with f/1.6 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), along with an 8MP ultrawide sensor. It can record videos in 8K at 24fps, 4K at 30/60fps, and 1080p at various frame rates. The 20MP front camera is capable of recording 1080p videos and supports HDR. Additionally, the camera system includes a color spectrum sensor, LED flash, and features like HDR and panorama.
Battery and Charging
The POCO F7 Pro is equipped with a 6550mAh battery, providing long-lasting performance. It supports 90W wired charging via PD3.0 and QC3+, allowing for fast recharging. The device does not support wireless charging.
Connectivity and Features
The POCO F7 Pro supports Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC. It also has USB Type-C and OTG support. The device includes an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor for secure authentication. The phone is also equipped with infrared capabilities but lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.
POCO has officially launched the POCO F7 Ultra globally. This marks the brand’s entry into the flagship smartphone market with a range of high-end features. The phone offers a high-refresh-rate display, a powerful chipset, and fast-charging capabilities. This article will discuss everything about the latest POCO F7 Ultra, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.
POCO F7 Ultra Overview
Display and Design
Display and Design
1 of 3
The POCO F7 Ultra features a 6.67-inch 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for enhanced visuals. The phone has a flat display design with metal frames, providing a solid feel. It also comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The back of the device has a matte finish, which helps prevent fingerprints and smudges. However, it lacks the more premium Gorilla Glass protection found in flagship devices, using POCO Shield glass instead.
Performance and Hardware
The POCO F7 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is built on a 3nm process, offering improved power efficiency and overall performance. The octa-core CPU includes two high-performance 4.32 GHz Oryon (Phoenix L) cores and six 3.53 GHz Oryon (Phoenix M) cores. This combination delivers better processing speeds and multi-tasking capabilities.
The Adreno 830 GPU handles gaming and graphics, providing smooth rendering even for intensive applications. Compared to the previous generation Snapdragon 8, the 8 Elite delivers a noticeable performance boost, especially in power efficiency and gaming performance.
The device comes with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, which allows for fast read and write speeds. Additionally, the VisionBoost D7 chipset improves contrast and visual quality while playing games. Similarly, the F7 Ultra runs on Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0 skin on top. You’ll also get 4 years of OS upgrade with 6 years of security patches.
Camera system
The POCO F7 Ultra features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 32MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom. It also has a 20MP front camera for selfies and video calls.
Battery and Charging
The phone is equipped with a 6000mAh battery and supports 120W fast charging. Additionally, it supports 50W wireless charging. POCO has integrated two in-house chipsets to improve charging stability and battery life, offering quick recharges and a longer-lasting battery.
The device supports Bluetooth 6.0, WiFi 7, and 5G with 19 frequency bands. It also features an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for secure authentication. However, the phone lacks an IR blaster and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might be a downside for some users.
Canon, a leading name in the camera industry, has introduced a new model to its camera lineup. Here we are talking about the newly launched PowerShot V1. This compact point-and-shoot camera is designed for those who love both photography and videography. Let’s take a look at the PowerShot V1, its features, specifications, and expected price in Nepal.
PowerShot V1 Overview
Sensor
The PowerShot V1 comes with a large 1.4-inch CMOS sensor (18.4 x 12.2mm), a built-in cooling system, and Canon’s Dual Pixel AF II autofocus technology. This camera is made with videographers in mind, offering a 16-50mm equivalent zoom lens (f/2.8-4.5). It has a fully adjustable rear screen and top-mounted microphones with wind protection but no built-in flash or electronic viewfinder.
Furthermore, the camera is powered by Canon’s DIGIC X processor and can shoot photos with a maximum resolution of 22.3 megapixels. Its ISO range goes up to 32,000 for stills and 25,600 for videos. Plus, its 16-50mm lens is great for shooting handheld or in tight indoor spaces.
Photography and Videography
In terms of videography V1 can record 10-bit Log video using Canon Log3, allowing for color grading after shooting. Canon claims it can record 4K video at 60 frames per second for over two hours when the auto power-off setting is on high. Thanks to the built-in fan that helps keep the camera cool during long recordings.
Likewise, if you shoot 4K at 30 frames per second, the sensor’s full width is used, and the footage is oversampled from 5.7K. The camera offers excellent low-light performance, with an ISO range of up to 25,600 for video and 51,200 for photos. Additionally, it features various shooting modes for video, a first for a PowerShot model.
For photos, the PowerShot V1 can capture 22.3-megapixel images at up to 30 frames per second. It uses the same autofocus system found in Canon R6 Mark II, ensuring fast and accurate focus.
Connectivity and Features
For connectivity, the PowerShot V1 is equipped with USB-C, HDMI, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, making it easy to transfer files or use the camera as a webcam. It has a special toggle switch for quickly switching between photo and video modes while keeping separate settings for each. Other handy features include a multifunction hot shoe, a three-stop ND filter, and microphone and headphone jacks for professional audio.
Canon PowerShot V1 Availability and Price in Nepal
A month ago, the PowerShot V1 was released in Japan, and now it’s coming to North America. The Canon PowerShot V1 is priced at $900 and will be available in April.
Soundcore by Anker is on the spree of launching new products. The Chinese brand has now launched the new Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds, which are a bit different from your usual pair of TWS. More about Soundcore Sleep A20’s specs, features, and official price in this article.
Soundcore Sleep A20 Overview:
Design
The Soundcore Sleep A20 boasts an in-ear design with an ear fin, similar to what we have seen in the past iterations of the Galaxy Buds from Samsung. Soundcore calls it Air Wings, which provides a tight grip to the ears. But be assured, the design is ergonomic enough to provide a gentle feeling, as claimed by Soundcore. Souncore ships this product in a Grey colorway in Nepal.
Sleep Tracking
These earbuds can track your sleep too. Yes, you heard that right. Soundcore calls it your sleeping partner for the obvious reason. It uses a MEMS sensor and real-time clock to track your sleep activities such as rollover, positions, and sleep duration. And you can view your all data in the app itself. You can turn on the Sleep Mode by double-tapping the buds. Moreover, you can also set alarms, pre-ser when to shut off, and such.
Audio and Noise Cancellation
On the audio side, the official site doesn’t mention the driver type. Although it does mention a 4-point noise masking system. But given that it’s a premium earbud, the audio quality should be top-notch. Furthermore, the Soundcore A20 is poised to last for 14 hours of playback when played at 50% volume and 80 hours of total playback with the charging case.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi G27Q 2025 last April, and now the company has introduced a new monitor with a very similar name but with affordable pricing. Here we are talking about the Redmi G27Q 240Hz gaming monitor. Let’s get into the depth of this new monitor, including its specifications and expected price in Nepal.
Redmi G27Q 240Hz Monitor Overview
Design and Display
The Redmi G27Q 240Hz monitor features a modern, sleek design with thin bezels, giving it a clean and minimalistic look. It has an ergonomic stand that lets you adjust the height, tilt the angle, and rotate the screen to a vertical position which is perfect for a portrait setup. If needed, the monitor also supports VESA mounts for wall installation.
In the front, the 27-inch Fast IPS display offers a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution that provides sharp and clear visuals. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, this monitor is ideal for fast-paced gaming, minimizing motion blur. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium which ensures smoother gameplay.
The monitor covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color space and 100% of sRGB that delivers vibrant and accurate colors. It has a peak brightness of 400 nits, making it suitable for various lighting conditions. Plus, it comes with the QingShan eye protection system, including DC dimming and TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification designed to reduce eye strain during extended use.
Connectivity and Features
On the connectivity side, the monitor offers DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, making it versatile for different devices. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for sound output. In terms of power consumption, it’s rated at 48W, which is quite efficient for its performance.
Redmi G27Q 240Hz Specifications
Design: Slim bezels, ergonomic stand (height, tilt, and 90-degree rotation), VESA mount support
Display: 27-inch Fast IPS
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels
Color Gamut: 95% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB
Ports: DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.0
Power Consumption: 48W
Audio: 3.5mm audio jack
Brightness: 400 nits
Response Time: 1ms GTG
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Eye Protection: QingShan system with DC dimming, TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification
FreeSync: AMD FreeSync Premium
Redmi G27Q 240Hz Availability and Price in Nepal
Currently launched in China, the Redmi G27Q 240Hz monitor is priced at CNY 1,499 and is available for pre-order. Once it arrives in Nepal, we expect it to be priced around NPR 32,000.
I always get texts from friends and family asking me for advice on what laptop to buy. Recently, a friend sent me a link to a “massive discount offer” and asked if it was a good deal. The headline alone shocked me. A laptop originally priced at NPR 215,900 was now available for just NPR 80,000!
As I started reading, the discounts kept getting bigger and bigger. By the time I reached the full list of offers, my suspicion had already kicked in. Something didn’t feel right. And sure enough, after checking the full specs list, I saw the truth. Most of these laptops were 5-year-old models running on Intel’s outdated 10th Gen processors.
While this isn’t the first time I’ve seen such a tactic, Neo Store did the same thing, offering what looked like “unbelievable” discounts on Dell laptops. But in reality, it was just a way to clear out old stock. TV and refrigerator companies also use the same trick, especially during festival seasons. You’ll see ads claiming “Up to 60% Off”, but in reality, the MRP was inflated, and the actual discount is barely significant. The goal is the same. Make you feel like you’re getting an amazing deal while selling old inventory at a slightly lower price.
So, let me break it down for you. Why you shouldn’t buy an Intel 10th Gen laptop or older laptops in 2025 and how to avoid getting fooled by fake discounts.
Why 10th Gen Intel Laptops Are a Bad Deal in 2025
Slow and Outdated Performance
Intel released 10th Gen CPUs in 2019, and technology has advanced significantly since then. Even budget-friendly 12th or 13th Gen processors outperform 10th Gen i7 chips today. Whether it’s gaming, video editing, or just multitasking, these old CPUs simply don’t hold up.
Poor Power Efficiency and Battery Life
Older Intel chips consume more power and heat up quickly, resulting in shorter battery life and frequent overheating. This is especially bad for people who need a laptop for work or travel.
Lack of Modern Features
Newer laptops support DDR5 RAM, PCIe 4.0/5.0, AI-based enhancements, and improved integrated graphics, all of which 10th Gen models lack. If you buy one today, you’re already behind in technology.
Limited Software and Security Support
Windows 11 and future updates are becoming more hardware-dependent. Older CPUs may lose support sooner, meaning security updates and software compatibility could become an issue much faster.
You Can Get a Better Laptop for the Same Price
The biggest scam with these “discounts” is that you’re not actually saving money. You’re paying for old stock when you could get a 12th or 13th Gen Intel laptop (or an AMD Ryzen 6000/7000 series) for nearly the same price.
How Retailers Trick You with Fake Discounts
Massive discount offers like the one from Neo Store are designed to look impressive but are actually a sales gimmick. Here’s how they do it:
1. Inflated MRPs
They list the “original price” as much higher than it ever was, making the discount look huge. The reality? The laptop was never worth that much in the first place.
2. Creating Fake Urgency
Phrases like “limited stock” or “offer valid for a few days only” are used to pressure buyers into making a quick decision without checking details.
3. Hiding the Processor Generation
Many listings won’t mention whether a laptop has a 10th Gen CPU. You’ll only see “Intel Core i7,” making it seem like a high-end laptop when it’s actually outdated.
4. Bundling with Freebies
Retailers try to make up for bad specs by offering free laptop bags, accessories, or extended warranties, hoping it distracts you from the real problem. The laptop itself is outdated.
5. Selling old stock under the pretense of a sale
These discounts aren’t about helping customers. They’re about clearing out old stock that nobody would buy at regular prices.
TVs and Refrigerators Use the Same Trick
This isn’t just a laptop problem. TV and refrigerator brands pull the same stunt, especially during festival seasons. Ever seen an ad for “Biggest Dashain Sale – Up to 60% Off!”? The discount looks amazing, but in most cases, the MRP was inflated, and the “new price” is just the actual selling price from months ago.
Retailers will sell last year’s TV models or refrigerators at a “discount”, making it seem like a great deal when, in reality, newer models with better features are available for a slightly higher price. Always check the model year before buying.
How to Avoid Falling for These Traps
Always Check the Processor Generation – Don’t just see “Core i7” and assume it’s good. Look at the exact model number (e.g., i7-10750H = 10th Gen, i7-13650HX = 13th Gen).
Compare Real Market Prices – Instead of believing the store’s discount, cross check various other retail stores. If not convinced, check the prices in International market such Amazon or Flipkart as well.
Ignore the “Was” Price – The original listed price is often exaggerated. Focus on what newer models are selling for, not the so-called discount.
Go for Newer CPUs Even If It Costs a Bit More – An Intel 13th or the latest Mateor’s/ Lunar Lake processors or AMD Ryzen 7000 series laptop will last much longer and perform significantly better.
Be Wary of TV and Appliance Discounts Too – This isn’t just a laptop problem. TVs and refrigerators often have fake MRPs to make minor discounts seem massive. Always check the actual release year of the model.
Final Thoughts
Retailers know that most people get excited about discounts and don’t always check the details. That’s why they inflate MRPs, hide the real specs, and push outdated models under flashy marketing.
If you’re buying a laptop in 2025, avoid Intel 10th Gen models at all costs. And more importantly, don’t fall for fake “massive discounts” without verifying the specs and market prices first. A deal isn’t a deal if the product isn’t worth buying.
Panasonic has just released its latest digital mirrorless camera. The new LUMIX GH5 II is a high-performance video camera targeted at content creators. Here, we will be taking a look at the key features and price of Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II in Nepal.
Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II Overview:
Sensor and Image Processor
The company has used the same 20.3MP Digital Live MOS sensor on the GH5 II like its predecessor. However, it now comes with an Anti-Reflective coating that reduces ghosting and flare. It is paired with a new Venus Engine image processor.
With this, the GH5 II can record 10-bit 4K 60fps videos at 4:2:0 internally and simultaneously output 4:2:2 via the HDMI port.
V-Log L
As opposed to its predecessor, V-Log L comes pre-installed on GH5 II, thereby eliminating the need to purchase it separately. This allows the users to match the color tone of the recorded videos with S1H/S1 and GH5/GH5S. There are two Cinelike Gamma presets in the Photo Style – D2 and V2.
There have been improvements in the Auto-Focus department as well. Panasonic has implemented a deep learning algorithm for subject detection. Together with the processor, it can detect the eye, face, head, and body of a human subject separately in real-time.
The detection of the eye and face is twice as fast here compared to GH5. Also, GH5 II can detect them even if they are half the size of what GH5 can capture.
Stabilization and LCD
Moreover, the image stabilizer has been improved to allow a 6.5-stop slower shutter speed. It also brings the latest algorithms developed for S1H that effectively suppresses low-frequency movement for a slower shutter speed.
Yet, the LCD screen has shrunk in size. It now has a diagonal length of 3.0-inch instead of 3.5-inch on the GH5. But the new free-angle panel has a higher resolution (1804K dot) and is superior to its predecessor—both in terms of color accuracy and outdoor visibility.
Rest of the features
Another highlight here is the ability to live stream wirelessly for smartphones by following H.264 compression in RTMP/RTMPS protocol. One can even opt for a wired live stream using LUMIX Webcam Software. The company will also be enabling IP streaming in the future through firmware updates.
LUMIX GH5 II brings a USB-C port with support for PD charging. The rest has remained pretty much the same. The body of the camera is similar but now comes with some red accents and rearranged buttons.
Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II Price in Nepal & Availability
Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II is now available in Nepal for NPR 270,000.
Camera Model
Price in Nepal (Official)
Panasonic LUMIX GH5
NPR 270,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of Razer Blade Stealth 13.
Realme is planning to launch Realme GT 7, a predecessor of GT 6 (although the company also launched GT 7 Pro a couple of months ago with SD 8 Elite), this will be the phone to feature flagship from Mediatek. This article will discuss everything about the latest Realme GT 7, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.
Realme GT 7 Rumors
Performance
Realme GT 7 will feature the Dimensity 9400 Plus chipset. There is no information regarding the 9400 Plus, but it is expected to be slightly overclocked version of the regular 9400. Realme aims to be the first to launch a smartphone with the Dimensity 9400 Plus chipset. Competing models include devices from Oppo, Vivo, iQOO, Redmi, and OnePlus.
For a gaming phone, the GT 7 will likely feature up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. But it is not confirmed yet.
Display and Battery
The smartphone is rumored to feature a massive 7,000mAh battery and 100W fast charging. Many phones in 2025 are bound to break the battery standards, which ranged from 5k to 6k with this new 7K battery. Expect it to last more than 10 hours on a single charge. Similarly, the phone also has a flat display and measures 8.4mm in thickness, weighing 207g.
So ever since Apple launched the M1 MacBook Air (review) back in 2020, the craze for MacBooks has just… skyrocketed. That thing was such a perfect little laptop for $1,000 that it made every Windows laptop at a similar price look like such a bad deal.
Fast forward to 2025, Apple’s newest MacBook Air now ships with a much more powerful M4 chip, it now has 16 gigs of memory in the base model instead of just 8 gigs, and it still starts at $1,000. And yep… if you’re looking to buy a nice, reliable laptop without spending too much, the M4 MacBook Air is most likely your safest choice.
But you (probably) know how I am.
I don’t wanna recommend you guys something without actually testing it myself. Which is why I’ve been using it alongside a $1,000 Windows laptop to find out if the M4 MacBook Air really is as good as everyone says it is. And after a lo…t of research, I found the Asus Zenbook S 14 OLED to be the closest M4 Air competitor in the Windows world. It’s quite a bit more expensive than the M4 Air in Nepal — retailing for NPR 232,900 —but bear with me here.
Apple M4 MacBook Air review: Specifications
Dimensions, Weight: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (W x D x H), 1.24 kg
Oh, and I’ll be comparing these two across a dozen different categories by the way to help you clearly understand which one’s better.
Design
1
Keyboard
1
Software
2
I/O
1
Trackpad
1
Gaming
1
Display
2
Webcam
1
Battery
2
Speakers
1
Performance
2
Value for money
2
Design and build
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (W x D x H)
1.24 kg, All-metal build
So with all that sorted out… let me start with their design. And it’s gonna be a tie right away because both M4 Air and Zenbook S 14 have such an interesting approach here. The MacBook Air brings that classic all-metal design, while the ceramic + aluminum construction that the Zenbook uses feels just as premium and tough to me.
I like how they’re both so easy to carry around as well — and despite being so lightweight — I can comfortably lift them open with just one hand. Well… technically Asus did manage to make the Zenbook a bit lighter than the MacBook Air but you know what? These two feel practically the same whenever I have them in my backpack.
M4 MacBook Air
1
Zenbook S 14 OLED
1
The port selection on MacBook Airs has always been somewhat of a sore spot for me though. All you get is a MagSafe connector for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a couple of Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports. So I almost always feel the need to travel with a USB hub with the MacBook Air in case I need to connect a pen drive. Or an external monitor through HDMI.
Ports
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M4 MacBook Air (left)
M4 MacBook Air (right)
Zenbook S 14 OLED (left)
Zenbook S 14 OLED (right)
Whereas the Zenbook S 14 pretty much brings all the ports I could ask for. It also has a headphone jack and a couple of high-speed Thunderbolt 4 connections — but on top of that — there’s a full-sized HDMI 2.1 and a Type-A port as well with up to 10 Gbps data speeds.
So yeah… this round definitely goes to Asus.
M4 MacBook Air
1.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
2
Display
13.6″ Liquid Retina IPS display
60Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
500 nits brightness
And so does the next one ‘cause I wanna talk about their display next.
Now the M4 Air’s display is perfectly good for everything too. It gets quite bright, it looks plenty sharp, and it’s also super color-accurate with 100% sRGB colors. But put it next to the Zenbook’s gorgeous OLED panel and you’ll see exactly why this guy deserves the win. I mean… the perfect blacks and the perfect contrast ratio of an OLED display is something an IPS panel simply can’t compete with.
Left: Zenbook S 14 OLED | Right: M4 MacBook Air
And unlike the MacBook Air, you’re also looking at a 120Hz display here. So things like scrolling through websites or gaming are gonna feel a lot smoother on the Zenbook S 14 too. Compared to the M4 Air’s 60Hz refresh rate. Asus obviously didn’t compromise in terms of brightness numbers or color accuracy either so… you get what I mean.
M4 MacBook Air
2.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
4
Speakers
Four-speaker system (2 tweeters + 2 woofers)
Support for Spatial Audio
I was quite surprised with how full and detailed its speakers sound as well.
They both have a great set of speakers while the Zenbook S 14 actually has noticeably better bass response than M4 Air. I remember saying how MacBooks have the best speaker on a laptop a while back but it seems some Windows manufacturers have managed to catch up to Apple. Nice!
M4 MacBook Air
3.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
5
Keyboard
Full-size Magic Keyboard (backlit)
1mm key travel
Let’s talk about the keyboard now.
And I gotta say, both the MacBook Air and the Zenbook S 14 have awesome keyboards. They’re both backlit, low-travel keyboards with around 1mm of travel distance, so it all comes down to your personal preference before deciding on one of ‘em.
Keyboard
1 of 2
M4 MacBook Air
Zenbook S 14 OLED
The one on the MacBook feels just a tad bit stiffer and noisier for my taste versus the Zenbook — but like I just said — it’s an entirely subjective thing.
M4 MacBook Air
4.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
6
Trackpad
Force Touch trackpad
I can’t really decide on one clear winner in terms of the trackpad either.
I’m probably supposed to say how the MacBook Air has a “technically superior” haptic trackpad while Asus has used a traditional mechanical one. Then again, I seriously doubt anyone will have a problem with the equally large and smooth touchpad on the Zenbook. And it even has a couple of fun and useful gestures to control volume, brightness, and stuff!
M4 MacBook Air
5.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
7
Webcam
12MP Center Stage camera
Three-mic array with directional beamforming
Alright.
So taking a quick peek at the scoresheet, I know the MacBook Air doesn’t seem all that impressive so far but trust me… we still have a long way to go.
Webcam
1 of 2
M4 MacBook Air
Zenbook S 14 OLED
And when it comes to the webcam, the M4 Air clearly has a better camera than the Zenbook. This is actually among the few hardware upgrades in this year’s MacBook Air ‘cause Apple has borrowed the same 12MP ultrawide camera from its “Pro” MacBooks here. The details, exposure, and overall video quality itself are better on the M4 Air, while that upgraded camera also means two things:
It now supports “Center Stage” to keep you in the frame as you move around.
The Zenbook S 14 has a similar feature called “Automatic Framing”, although I found that it doesn’t quite work as well as it should.
Whereas Apple has made the most of that wider camera with something called “Desk View”. Which basically gives me an overhead view of my desk in case I need to show and tell something during video calls. I’ll admit that the image looks pretty distorted, but it does come in handy every now and then.
M4 MacBook Air
6.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
7.5
Performance
Apple M4 chip (3nm)
10-core CPU, 8/10-core GPU
Up to 32GB unified memory, Up to 2TB SSD
Let’s… talk about performance now.
So the M4 chip on the MacBook Air now has a 10-core CPU (with 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores) and an 8-core GPU if you get the base variant. With 16GB of unified memory and 256GB storage.
On the other hand, the Zenbook S 14 has an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V “Lunar Lake” chip. I know that name sucks but Lunar Lake is easily Intel’s most ambitious lineup of mobile processors yet. And in a lot of ways, Intel has really tried to emulate Apple’s success by focusing on efficiency instead of just raw horsepower like always.
It’s built on TSMC’s 3nm process (like the M4 chip), Intel even got rid of hyperthreading for better efficiency, while this thing also has an integrated memory like Apple silicons. The storage is still upgradable here — unlike on the MacBooks — but yeah.
I’ll talk about whether or not Intel’s big bet on efficiency to improve battery life actually pays off in real-life usage in just a moment, but what you need to know right now is that M4 is simply way more powerful than this Intel chip. At literally every single thing.
It’s… not even a competition.
Be it in something like Cinebench 2024 which tests the chip’s CPU performance under full load or in Geekbench 6 that’s more like a general-purpose benchmark to test everyday work. And it’s not like Apple is ahead by a small margin either ‘cause I’m seeing nearly 40% better single-core scores and 20 – 40% better multi-core results.
CPU benchmarks
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Cinebench 2024
Geekbench (CPU)
The M4 outclasses Intel’s 256V in GPU-based tests as well… and even in some productivity-based ones like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
GPU, productivity benchmarks
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Geekbench (GPU)
GFXBench
GravityMark
Pugetbench for Photoshop
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro
I also tried editing a simple 4K video on both of them. And although they managed to render the project at a surprisingly similar time, the actual editing experience was mu…ch smoother on the MacBook Air. Including things like scrubbing through the timeline in real-time and also when I was using multi-frame rendering on After Effects.
AI benchmarks
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Geekbench AI
LM Studio
The MacBook Air is better-suited for AI tasks too… as you can see from this Geekbench AI test. And when I tried locally running Deepseek’s “R1” model with 7 billion parameters on these machines, the M4 Air had lower latency and it was much faster at generating tokens for the same prompt. Just… brilliant!
And then there are two important things about the MacBook’s performance that makes it all the more impressive compared to this Windows laptop:
Number 1, it is passively cooled. Which means there’s absolutely no fan noise here.
And number 2, the M4 Air retains its peak performance even on battery power. Unlike the Zenbook S 14 which loses a lot of its CPU performance when it’s not plugged in.
M4 MacBook Air
8.5
Zenbook S 14 OLED
8.5
Don’t get me wrong, the Zenbook is perfectly powerful enough on battery power for everyday work like checking email, browsing the web, editing documents, and stuff like that. And I must say that its fan noise is also whisper quiet in those situations.
The age-old problem with Windows machines
But anytime I do something a little more computationally demanding… like photo/video editing or running AI models locally, I need to either worry about sacrificing performance or worse fan noise and worse battery life on this guy.
It’s like I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t!
Zenbook S 14 OLED benchmarks (plugged in vs on battery)
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Cinebench 2024
Geekbench (CPU)
Pugetbench for Photoshop
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro
The Zenbook S 14’s only saving grace — as far as the performance is concerned — is that at least you can game on it. I doubt anyone’s buying a slim, lightweight laptop exclusively for gaming but hey… it’s possible here. And on my tests, I was easily getting around 100+ fps on CS2 and Valorant at medium to high settings at 1080p. Or around 50 fps on Cyberpunk 2077 with some upscaling magic.
I know gaming on a Mac has come a long way in the past couple of years — with more and more titles launching natively for Apple’s Arm-based systems — but Windows still has a massive head start in terms of gaming.
M4 MacBook Air
9
Zenbook S 14 OLED
9.5
Software
macOS Sequoia
As for the software experience itself, I’m gonna have to side with macOS as well.
It’s… so well designed, the animations are fantastic, and it just feels so reliable to me, you know? My one major complaint I used to have with macOS was that arranging multiple app windows always used to be a pain… but Apple has fixed that with macOS Sequoia. You also get a few “Apple Intelligence” features this time, and to me, those feel better-designed and easier too versus all the AI features on Windows 11.
M4 MacBook Air
11
Zenbook S 14 OLED
10.5
Battery
53.8 Wh Li-Po battery
Up to 70W fast charging support
Finally, I also found the battery life to be better on the MacBook Air.
It actually has a smaller 53.8 Wh battery compared to 72 Wh battery on the Zenbook S 14 but remember how I tested their performance on battery power? Yeah… I was also closely monitoring the battery level after every single test.
And by the end, the M4 Air and the Zenbook lost 30% and 36% charge, respectively. Even in my regular, everyday use, the MacBook Air would last longer by 10 – 15% every single day. So… even though Intel used every single trick up its sleeve to make Lunar Lake as power-efficient as possible, it seems that it’s still no match for Apple’s M4 chip.
M4 MacBook Air
13
Zenbook S 14 OLED
11.5
At least the Zenbook charges slightly faster so… that’s something I guess.
With the included 65W power brick taking the laptop from 1 – 100% in two hours, while the 30W adapter that Apple ships inside the box needs half an hour more to get the job done. You can speed up the charging time on the MacBook with a 35/70W brick — but of course — that’s gonna cost extra.
Which one’s the better value for money?
And considering everything, I’d say the M4 Air is a better value for money as well.
That level of performance, battery life, dependability, and everything else I get for just $1,000 here is simply remarkable. Not just that but MacBooks have a significantly better resale value than Windows laptops too. So if I want to sell it in the future for some reason, the M4 Air is not gonna depreciate by a lot like pretty much every other Windows machine. I can guarantee you that!
M4 MacBook Air
15
Zenbook S 14 OLED
12.5
Apple M4 MacBook Air review: Conclusion
Okay, so we’ve come to the end of this review.
And taking a final look at the scoresheet, we can see that the M4 MacBook Air takes a comfortable victory in this battle. The Zenbook S 14 does snatch a win at a couple of things like display, port selection, and gaming but besides that… the MacBook Air has a clean sweep at everything else. Especially when it comes to important stuff like performance, software experience, battery life, and overall value for money.
So yeah. If you’re looking to buy a premium, everyday laptop without spending too much, get the M4 MacBook Air. Don’t look at any Windows ultrabook unless macOS itself is a dealbreaker to you.
Our video review of Apple M4 MacBook Air is coming up pretty soon
Apple M4 MacBook Air review: Pros and Cons
• Literally everything else
• The port selection could’ve been better
• Just 256GB of base storage
• Unfortunately, memory and storage upgrades still cost an arm and a leg
